Major Building In Ashburton Planned

Press, Volume C, Issue 29604, 29 August 1961, Page 4

Major Building In Ashburton Planned

A major building scheme is envisaged for the Ashburton racecourse- by the Ashburton Trotting Club committee, the president (Mr A. J. Nicoll) told the annual meeting of the club yesterday.

“For some time the bar and luncheon facilities for the public have proved inadequate,” he said. “Outline plans have already been drawn for an extension to the main grandstand, incorporating increased seating accommodation, enlargement of the public luncheon room, a new public bar and members’ bar on the ground floor and other amenities. “These improvements have been approved in principle by the committee and although they will not be begun immediately, they will be undertaken as soon as the committee considers the time opportune. Complimentary Tickets “All members, I feel sure, will be pleased at the outcome of a meeting of all the trotting clubs in Canterbury, which was held in Christchurch last week,” he said. “At this meeting it was unanimously resolved to eliminate completely the issue of complimentary tickets. For many years this vexed question has caused much criticism and not a little heart-burning. “The policy of ‘no complimentaries’ has been adopted

with outstanding success by all the clubs which have switched to night trotting and it is felt that nothing but good can result from the decision of the Canterbury clubs to put all their patrons on an equal footing.” Big Field Problem Many more permits spread throughout the Dominion is the only real solution to the problem of big fields, Mr Nicoll believes. “The big field problem is still with us and the number of competing horses actually on the course on the first day of our winter meeting, 218, must surely be an all-time record. “The committee is endeavouring to cope with the problem of running division races whenever practicable but this is not the complete answer. “Many more permits spread throughout the Dominion is the only solution,” he said. “Our stakes have been maintained at a high level and while no increase has been made for our spring meeting next month, it must be remembered that for many years we have given, and are still giving, considerably higher stakes than the Dominion average for equivalent classes,” said Mr Nicoll.